Dusk Substitute
Apologies

"Aryan, where's Daniel? Why didn't he come to see me?" irfan said, while sleeping in his room. Aryan lowered his head with silent lips.

Irfan's body is getting weaker, his old age has taken away his strength. But the arrogant and selfish still remain in his heart. Irfan Kusuma, not just anyone. Without moving from his bed. He can know everything that's going on. Including Aryan's meeting with Daniel. His second son left decades ago. The lost son is swallowed by the earth. There is no trace or shadow of Daniel. Irfan couldn't find his beloved son.

Now his weak body was again excited, when he heard the news about the return of the son. But happiness is only a moment, then disappeared and extinct. After three days, Daniel did not see her. Irfan's hope vanished, replaced empty and empty. His son came back, but never wanted to see him. A longing that should pay off and leave pain.

"Aryan, where's your brother?"

"I'm sorry pa, I can't find Brother Daniel. I've been tracking his whereabouts. But there was no clue that allowed me to find him. Even I asked Nissa for help, but the results remained the same. Daniel's brother disappeared, as if he never wanted to be found!" aryan said, Irfan looked down sluggishly.

His body grew weaker, no longer able to bear the hatred of the son. The mistake he made with Daniel. Makes Irfan regret for life. The pride that finally made Irfan lose Daniel. The son left her. Not a year or two, decades Daniel went away bringing his anger and disappointment to Irfan. The hatred remained, even though Daniel had returned. Daniel's obvious anger is shown to Irfan.

"He's still mad at me. I'm guilty of her!" irfan said full of regrets.

Aryan approached Irfan, giving him a glass of water. Just to calm the heart of Irfan who was troubled looking for the existence of the son. Aryan felt sorry for Irfan. In his old age, Irfan had to be lonely without his sons and daughters. All because of his pride and selfishness as a father. Aryan can't change what happened. Surviving on Irfan's side, becomes Aryan's way of loving his father.

"Sister Daniel needs time. I believe, when it's time. Brother Daniel will come to see papa. He's papa's son, he won't have the heart to see papa tormented by longing for him!"

"If your words are true, not just wishful thinking. I'd be happy, but Daniel didn't want to see me. He hates me, hates me!" said Irfan, while staring at the small frame that is beside his bed.

Irfan took a picture frame beside him. His weak hand rubbed the photo many times. The shadow of the son whom he missed so much. Aryan was silent, there was a sense of disappointment in Irfan's attitude. Irfan's gaze was full of longing in Daniel's photo. Without caring anymore for Aryan his youngest son. The affection that felt unfair to Aryan.

"I'm sorry, papa Daniel, please go home. Papa will do everything, to make up for your suffering!" murmured Irfan was full of guilt.

A clear drop of Irfan's tears fell soaking the photo. Aryan silently endured the sense of uncertainty. Seeing Irfan's great affection for Daniel. Tears that never dripped, now dripping missed the second son of the Kusuma family.

"I'm going to find Daniel's brother, so be calm. I will try my hardest!" aryan said loudly, Irfan nodded his ass.

"For your happiness, I will seek the brother of Daniel. Even if it means, I must see your injustice. Your affection for Daniel's brother, has unknowingly set me aside. But trust me, happy you are the purpose of my life. I'll take Daniel's brother home. I miss the smile on your face. There was a smile, when papa met with brother Daniel!" aryan's mind is wistful, crying seeing Irfan slumped in longing.

Tok Tok Tok Tok Tok Tok Tok

"Lake in!" sahut Aryan, along with the sound of the door opening.

"Sister Daniel!" aryan said softly, Daniel stepped slowly into Irfan's room. Room he never entered again. Since twenty years ago.

The last day he went into Irfan's room. The same day, he broke off relations with the Kusuma family. Removing Kusuma's big name and choosing to fight alone against the rigors of life. The struggle that finally forged Daniel's life. Daniel's body was no longer weak. His feet stepped, facing the steep path of life. Proving to the world, he is capable without the big name Kusuma.

"Aryan, there's no need to comfort papa. Your brother won't come back, he hates papa!" suhut Irfan with eyes closed. Irfan closed his eyes, imagining the picture he was holding was Daniel. Such a great and unpaid longing. Now torturing the body of old Irfan Kusuma.

A bated cry broke out, Irfan cried at Daniel's voice. The voice that almost forgot him. But now calling him, even though the cold was real. Irfan remained happy, finally able to meet Daniel. Two of her eyes, looking at the son she missed. Irfan got up from his bed. Aryan ran, supporting the weak body of the father. With the rest of his strength, Irfan tried to sit down.

"No need to get up, sit down. I'm not leaving!" daniel said coldly, when he saw Irfan trying to stand up. Aryan helps Irfan stand up, but Daniel doesn't budge. Not a single bit of Daniel thought of approaching Irfan.

"Papa wants to hug you, let papa hold you!" irfan said softly, Daniel did not reply. Daniel walked towards the big window of Irfan's room. Complaining of the father's simple request.

Daniel looked out the window, the same sky as the last time he left. The sky is still the same, like the haughty nature of Irfan Kusuma. Daniel looked out the window. Ignoring the longing of the father who loved him so much. There was a breath of Daniel's lips. A burden that felt heavy on his shoulders. Aryan was fixated, staring at the cold body of the older brother.

"Twenty years ago, I left this house. Twenty years ago, brother Elmaira left me forever. Twenty years ago, I fought against the rigors of the world. Changed my way of life, got out of your gold-plated prison. Now after twenty years, I'm back in this house. But this house remains the same, cold heartless. Papa remains arrogant and selfish. Papa never understood his son's wishes. Even after Elmaira and I left. Papa remains selfish and cruel!"

"Daniel, papa's guilty of you. That's why I'm sorry papa!"

"An apology I want to hear first. I no longer want. I didn't come back because I wanted to be part of the Kusuma family. I came back for Nissa, my sister's little daughter. Her last trust daughter, a trust that Aryan could never keep!"

"Daniel, papa will do anything? As long as you come back!"

"No need!" daniel was cold, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry papa!" irfan lirih.

"I'm no longer your son, Aryan is your only son. Love him, don't ignore his affection. Elmaira and I are only the past to you. Aryan and Alvira are your successors now!"

Buuugghhhh

"I'm sorry, sorry!" irfan said regretfully, his weak body fell down. His knees hit the floor very hard. Aryan was flabbergasted when he realized that Irfan was standing in front of Daniel.

"Sister Daniel, you miss you so much!"

"Then!" daniel said relaxed, Irfan shook his head in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, sorry!"

"I'll forgive papa, if papa throws Alvira out of Kusuma's house and family!" daniel said coldly, then left Irfan alone. Dissolved into disappointment and long regret.

"Sister Daniel, why is your heart this cold?" aryan couldn't believe it.